Peace Cross Could Reshape Church and State

Bladensburg Peace Cross World War I memorial Maryland controversial

A 40-foot cross in Bladensburg intended as a memorial to the World War I dead could shift the line between church and state in the U.S.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. American Humanist Association, a case brought by a secular humanist organization which wants the cross moved off public land.

Since 1971, the court has decided cases like this by asking three questions, known as the Lemon test: does the monument have a non-religious purpose, does it mostly advance a particular religion or does it excessively mix church and state.

Supporters of the Peace Cross argued that crosses have long been used in cemeteries to mark the dead and that the main purpose of the cross was to honor the war dead.

Critics, including the humanist group that brought the case, argued that a 40-foot cross in the middle of a well-trafficked intersection seems like an endorsement of Christianity.

But the court also considered another, deeper argument. With a conservative majority on the court, some saw a chance to throw out the Lemon test entirely and establish a much looser rule which would only stop the government from direct coercion of religion.

It is hard to determine what the justices may decide based only on the questions they asked in court, since these kinds of cases are often decided later behind closed doors. But observers said that Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh seemed receptive to overturning the precedent, while Chief Justice John Roberts worried about where to draw the line if they threw out the old test.

Whatever the court decides, the Bladensburg cross served as a powerful symbol of the debate over the line between church and state.

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6 responses to “Peace Cross Could Reshape Church and State”

  1. Lise Nau says:

    An interesting debate. I think the cross monument should be taken down and replaced for one main reason: it is butt-ugly!

  2. Celina says:

    It’s a blatant and extremely prominent eyesore to the already existing eyesore that is the town of Bladensburg. They should definitely take it down and replace it with something more palatable.

  3. Jim Groves says:

    Gotta think about the large implications here. I know a lot of people don’t see this as a big deal, but if SCOTUS allows this, it’s going to change everything. With the new SCOTUS members, I would be very surprised if they rule to take it down. Get ready to start repeating “Under His Eye”.

  4. Ms.minor says:

    My great uncle is the 5th name on that plaque and I AM proud to be an American, I AM proud that my relative fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Vincent G. Cooley was just a young man when he died, how dare anyone think anything less than keeping the Peace Cross Memorial to honor young men from P.G. County.

  5. Dylan Taylor says:

    Religion and State should be seperated.
    Simple.

  6. E Jones says:

    Peace Cross has stood not only as a memorial to those who lost their lives serving during WW1, it has also served as a landmark to Bladensburg and further. Why destroy this history?

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